CEI Architecture Planning Interiors-Innovative work for Penticton division of Okanagan College

Posted: May 31, 2011

PENTICTON, BC – The trades training building for Okanagan College in Penticton has been selected as a nominee for presentation at the 7th Annual World Sustainable Building Conference that’s being hosted in Helsinki, Finland from October 18 – 21.

This “green” building has been designed with the expectations to meet the net-zero standards for energy and water consumption. With a minimum of 300 kilowatts of photovoltaic solar panels to be installed, this will allow the building to use a mere 65 kilowatts of energy per square metre annually! Compare that to the average building that uses approximately 250 kilowatts per square metre every year.

Thanks to the innovative work from CEI Architecture and many other companies, they are aiming to potentially meet the ‘Living Building Challenge’ standards. These particular standards are extremely difficult to achieve as they focus not only on the construction standards, but on the day-to-day operations of the building process. The standards comprise of 7 main performance areas: Site, Water, Energy, Materials, Beauty, Health, and Equity. This entails the building to be monitored strictly for a year. At the completion of this building it is anticipated to be among the most environmentally responsible public buildings in all of North America.

Another unique aspect to this building is that it will be used to teach the new students. The building itself is meant to be part of the curriculum; courses will be focused around the actual construction methods and benefits of the design features. Design ideas such as the exposure of the mechanical and electrical systems through plexiglass will allow students to actually see the inner workings of the building. This will also lead to the development of classes about sustainable building technologies and processes and delve into further R&D of renewable energy.

Other features of this immaculate structure are:

  • Made of Wood (70, 000 square foot building)
  • Walls are built with composite panels, this combines concrete with glued laminated timber beams; this makes them strong and light.
  • Floors are polished concrete which are heated and cooled with an in-floor radiant system.
  • Water source is from a drilled well 200 feet below the building. Water that is drawn to the surface then uses state-of-the-art technology to remove heat from the water.
  • Building is naturally ventilated.
  • Six solar chimneys draw warm air up and out of the building.
  • CEI Architecture has also been part of the construction of the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC) and the Hooded Merganser Restaurant here in Penticton.

For more information, please visit: www.ceiarchitecture.com

David H. Arsenault, MBA
Economic Development Officer | Penticton Economic Development Services
553 Railway Street, Penticton, BC, V2A 8S3
T: (250) 493-3323 C: (250) 809-9006

Questions? Contact Penticton Economic Development

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